MOSCOW/TEHRAN: In a significant strategic development, Iran and Russia are preparing to ink a landmark agreement this week for the construction of eight nuclear power plants on Iranian soil. The announcement was made by Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and vice president, who confirmed that negotiations had entered the final stage.
The project is part of Tehran’s long-term energy vision, aiming to achieve 20 gigawatts of nuclear power generation by 2040. Once the agreement is formally signed, work will begin on the operational phase of the massive project, which is expected to enhance Iran’s energy independence and expand cooperation with Russia.
According to Eslami, half of the new reactors will be built in Bushehr, where Iran’s first nuclear facility was developed with Russian support. He further revealed that Iranian companies are already engaged in constructing Units 2 and 3 at the existing Bushehr site, marking a new chapter in Iran’s domestic capability in nuclear technology.
The timing of the announcement is crucial, as it comes against the backdrop of heightened international scrutiny and Western unease over Iran’s nuclear programme. While Tehran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are strictly for peaceful energy generation, global powers remain sceptical, citing Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and ongoing concerns regarding compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.
The collaboration with Moscow not only strengthens Iran’s nuclear infrastructure but also deepens strategic ties between the two nations at a time when both face growing diplomatic and economic isolation from the West.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.